Easy Tips for Planning and Writing Blog Posts

Running a blog takes a lot of time but it’s FUN! It’s a creative process from top to bottom and I love every bit of it. From the back-end stuff like coding and SEO — to the designing aspects like colors and images. But my favorite part is planning and writing blog posts! So I wanna share my process (which is definitely not perfect by any means and I’m not pitching myself as any kind of professional) and some tips to help you when writing your own blog posts!

MY PROCESS:

Ideas

I’m not a very organized person so keeping track of my blog post ideas is something I work very diligently to do.

I don’t brainstorm on purpose; idea’s generally pop into my head randomly. Since my phone is obviously always with me, I keep an ever-growing list of post ideas in the iPhone Notes app. I love using this app because when I log in to iCloud from my laptop I can access those notes! (Microsoft Word is another option capable of syncing files on your phone and computer).

Writing

Sometimes I’ll start writing a post in my Notes app when inspiration strikes (usually while laying in bed at night). Once in a blue moon I finish a post on my phone but usually I get stuck and leave it for later. Most often, I write my posts on my laptop. I have a folder on my desktop were I keep all my partially written posts. When I sit down to write, I will browse through my list of ideas or partially written posts and pick one that I fancy at that moment.

Planning

This section is actually about what I don’t do haha! I very rarely have enough content at once that I need to schedule ahead of time. Also I do not post on any particular days (although someday I want to be able to schedule a post every single Monday for instance). I don’t have any particular order for posting my topics either. You’ll notice I might publish 2 or 3 posts in a row on the same topic. When the inspiration comes, I run with it!

Designing

I use Canva to create my blog cover image and Pinterest image (seen below). The free version is a powerful resource but the paid version is literally a lifesaver!

Publishing

When a post is written and ready to be published, I copy and paste it into my WordPress editor. This is where I use the fabulous program Yoast which helps me clean up my posts for SEO. Sometimes this is a quick step. Other times it requires a lot of tweaks and adjustments. Once SEO is done I hit that publish button!

Here are my own personal tips for planning & writing blog posts!

Focus on the ONE task at hand.

Don’t get distracted. I have a tendency to open my phone and spend 10 minutes checking email or 20 minutes on Instagram before realizing I got distracted. Or having multiple browser windows open on my computer so I start to multi-task which ruins my train-of-thought. Even my cat is a distraction because I’ll get up to play fetch with him then forget that I was even writing to begin with! If you want to be as efficient as possible you’ve got to stay focused.

We all have crazy schedules but try to actually plan distraction-free time to write. Put on some zen music and get busy!

Perfectionism is not your friend.

I am super guilty of writing a post then critiquing it for AGES! Changing this wording and that wording. Deleting or rewriting parts. Over-analyzing my grammar. And sometimes not even posting it because it didn’t meet my “perfect standards”. This is such a waist of time! It’s better to make the post rather than have it sitting unseen. You can always edit it later. In fact, I’ve edited almost every post on my blog (almost 2 years old).

There is no need to rush.

Don’t force yourself to work on something if you aren’t truly feeling it. I have multiple unfinished posts because I just wasn’t in the mood. Some I might never finish but most I’ll come back to at a later time when I have the right mindset. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself to publish a certain amount of posts or to post on certain days. When you rush or force yourself to write, blogging won’t be enjoyable and you’ll burn yourself out.

It’s ok to get inspiration from other sources.

Google is your friend. Social media is your friend. That other blog you admire is your friend. Obviously there’s a difference between being inspired by somebody else and straight-up copying them. (Read my copycat story). As a mature adult it should be pretty obvious what’s okay and what’s not okay.

DO NOT QUIT!

This is the absolute #1 reason a blogger will fail. Obviously! No posts = no readers. I couldn’t find any concrete data but I would bet money that something like 80% or more bloggers give up within the first year. Do your best to stick with it! The longest I went without posting was two months. Other than that, I have been consistent for almost two years. And here’s to many more years of happily blogging!